Ready, Set, Learn!

Thinking about enrolling your kid in a class? Read on to choose a brain-building activity that will feel like all play to your child!

Ballet, piano, French lessons, soccer practice. You and your child have dozens of fun-sounding classes to choose from, but how do you know which activity to choose and when to start? And how do you know if you're pushing your kid too hard? "What's most important is simply exposing kids to a variety of activities so that they'll discover what they like and are good at," says Ellen Booth Church, a Key West, FL-based former teacher and author of Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Preschool But Didn't Know Whom to Ask. Want to find the right class for your kid? Here's how.

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Dance

When's my kid ready? Introduce him to dance concepts, sometimes called "creative movement," at 2 to 3 years old. He can start instruction in ballet, modern, jazz, or even hip-hop at 4 to 5 years old.

Who knew? The running, skipping, and twirling in dance moves can boost reading and math ability because they require counting steps, noting patterns and rhythms, and progressing in a sequence — all skills that are also involved in both.

Is it for my kid? If your child spins down the street — rather than preferring to sit quietly in a sandbox — dance may be a good outlet for her physical energy. It's also valuable for kids with language delays because, as Church explains, "They may find it easier to express themselves physically than verbally."

When's my kid ready? She can start with creative dramatics or imagination games at 3 to 4 years old. By age 6, most kids are ready for full-on theater classes.

Who knew? The act of improvising — inventing characters, plots, and dialogue — lays the groundwork for creative writing, storytelling, and independent thinking down the road, Church says. Socially, kids learn to become part of a group, which means cooperating and using some self-control (because not everyone can go first). Kids also get a crash course in listening — they have to pay attention to the lines being said so they can respond accordingly.

Is it for my kid? Drama is a great outlet for kids who enjoy being the center of attention. "In a class, there are lots of stars, and a child learns that stars shine at different times," says Church. But drama can also be beneficial if your child has trouble expressing emotions — or if the family is going through a divorce, a new baby, or another transition that can leave kids unsettled — because acting can bring those emotions to the surface or help provide a release. Melissa Sanders, 45, of Montclair, NJ, enrolled her daughter Laurel in a theater program at age 5. "She was the kind of kid who didn't raise her hand or speak up in class, but in theater she'd get caught up in the creative process, and her shyness would vanish," Sanders says.

MusicWhen's my kid ready? Basic music appreciation can start as early as 6 months. You can introduce kids to instrument instruction around age 4.Who knew? "Music is great for brain development because it not only enhances kids' understanding of language and vocabulary but it also has patterns, rhythms, and sequences that strengthen memory and math skills," says Sally Goldberg, Ph.D., early-childhood education specialist at the Center for Successful Children, a parent-education organization in Scottsdale, AZ. Other research points to music's mellowing qualities — just listening to it can relax an overly active child, says Goldberg.Is it for my kid? Music is great for all kids, but may be especially helpful for those with language delays because it engages different parts of the brain than speaking (which is why people who stutter often have no trouble singing), says Church. When Lake Grove, NY, mom Mary DeBiccari enrolled her 2-year-old son in Music Together, she wasn't sure what he'd get out of it because he wasn't very verbal. "Nicholas found his voice through singing," says DeBiccari, 34.Find a class near you:musictogether.com; musicforaardvarks.com; kindermusik.com.SwimmingWhen's my kid ready? You and your kid can participate in splashing and kicking in a pool or in the ocean at 6 months, and then begin solo or group instruction at age 3.Who knew? Swimming helps build coordination; it's also a huge confidence- booster, says Goldberg. "Kids understand that it's a valuable life skill, so when they master it, they feel extremely accomplished," she says.Is it for my kid? Learning to swim is great exercise for both mind and body, not to mention a basic survival skill, so all kids should give it a shot. The sooner you get kids in the pool, the more comfortable they'll feel getting their head wet, going in the deep end, and eventually swimming (if you wait too long to start, kids can become fearful). Jodi Arlen, 43, of Bethesda, MD, says her daughter Sydney was initially terrified of the water — but that all changed when she started taking swim lessons at age 2. "I think because she was doing it with her friends it became less scary and more fun," says Arlen.Find a class near you:ymca.net; clubswim.com.

SportsWhen's my kid ready? Introduce your kid to basic sports moves (e.g., tossing a ball back and forth) around ages 2 to 3, and striking a ball off a tee from 4 to 5. She can play T-ball games from 4 to 7. Hold off on other competitive sports until age 8.Who knew? Sports actually enhance brain development and functioning, according to Stephen J. Virgilio, Ph.D., author of Active Start for Healthy Kids. Exercise primes the brain for learning by increasing circulation and upping the flow of oxygen.Is it for my kid? Sports are a great outlet for energetic children, and they can also draw out a child who is socially withdrawn, as long as the activity is age-appropriate. "Before age 8, kids are not developmentally ready for competition," Virgilio says. "When something goes wrong — say, they strike out — they see it as a personal failure rather than an athletic failure, and they can't distinguish between the two."Find a class near you:gymboreeclasses.com; thelittlegym.com; soccertots.net; littleleague.org.ArtWhen's my kid ready? "Creative arts" (e.g., finger painting) can be introduced between ages 1 and 3, while lessons in technique (e.g., how to work with watercolors) can begin from age 4.Who knew? Children who take part in an art program improve in a range of literacy and critical-thinking skills, according to a recent study from the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. "Art is a precursor to reading and writing because storytelling starts happening," says Church. "They draw a picture and tell an entire story based on these scribbly things. And the scribbles gradually become symbols, letters, words, and full stories" -- the building blocks of literacy.Is it for my kid? Art, like music, is a universal inclination, but kids who sit still easily for projects and those who tend to graffiti everything in the house may tune in to it more. Painting and drawing can be good for kids who need work on fine motor skills, and art is a great confidence-booster for those with developmental delays.Find a class near you:gymboreeclasses.com; clickforlessons.com.Stick with it or quit?
Before you throw in the towel on swim class, find out why your child doesn't like it: Talk with him afterward, when the situation is not so emotionally charged, suggests Goldberg. Maybe the teacher yells or the class is too difficult. "In some cases, you may uncover a problem that's easily fixed," says Goldberg. If your child is preverbal, look at everything from the teacher and students to the timing (is the class close to nap time?). Know your child and gauge his comfort level. "If you can get your child to cooperate, do it," Goldberg says, because your kid will learn and have fun. "But if an activity is causing too much discomfort, stop and try again another time."